William Randolph Hearst was one of many wealthy American collectors in 19th and early 20th century America who built and decorated sumptuous homes. In this Gilded Age great estates were decorated with European art and architecture. These wealthy collectors amassed art which became, in many cases, the basis for the great American art museums founded in the late 19th century.

Hearst Castle™ is one of the few estates remaining from this era with its collections intact. It reflects the tastes of its owner and creator as well as American culture of the early twentieth century, offering a rare glimpse into the lifestyle and society of the American wealthy of that time.